Why Some Movements Made Inroads into Plain Anabaptist Communities...

[Ernie]

Why did Pietism, Revivalism, Restorationism, Holiness, Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, Non-Denominationalism make inroads into Plain Anabaptist communities, but Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Sacramentalism, and Calvinism have not?

And then we have things like Puritanism, Moravianism, Modernism, Charismatic thinking, Emerging Church, and Prosperity Gospel teaching that perhaps influenced some smaller break away groups but didn't really influence Plain Anabaptists as a whole.

[barnhart]

Why did Pietism, Revivalism, Restorationism, Holiness, Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, Non-Denominationalism make inroads into Plain Anabaptist communities, but Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Sacramentalism, and Calvinism have not?

And then we have things like Puritanism, Moravianism, Modernism, Charismatic thinking, Emerging Church, and Prosperity Gospel teaching that perhaps influenced some smaller break away groups but didn't really influence Plain Anabaptists as a whole.

Just guesses, but I see categories in the movements you mention. The first grouping, from Pietism to non-denominational gained purchase for two reasons, they seemed to fit into the established scheme of practice and they filled a need at the moment. Orthodox and Catholicism are self contained systems that don't mix and match, and Sacramentalism and Calvinism conflict with deeper Anabaptist ideas like group vs. self or how God's grace is distributed.

Another category is movements that emerged in environments foreign to most Anabaptists in response to pressures Anabaptists were not experiencing. In this category I would put Charismatics, Prosperity gospel and maybe Modernism.

[Pelerin]

The sort of ostentatious wealth the prosperity gospel promises is inherently at odds with plain culture. But also the prosperity gospel pretty much just appeals to poor people and historically Mennonites tend to prosper already.

[barnhart]

My grandmother who just turned 100 recently mentioned that her father when choosing a farm was careful to avoid an area near the Presbyterians because they were known for aggressive children's ministries, including Sunday schools. He didn't want his children targeted by them.

[Neto]

Seeing 'pietism' included in your list begs for definition of terms. Please define what you mean by this term. Can you categorically say that the "early anabaptists" were not pietistic?

I would maintain that the Dutch "baptism-minded" were. But I should also say that the Mennonite Brethren, my spiritual heritage, were deeply pietistic from the beginning, and I see myself in those same terms.

There are on-line sources that will readily jump to making a contrast between pietism and confessionalism, the latter being defined as "an adherence to sound doctrine and orderly worship", and the former as "a vibrant Christian experience and devotion". Both of these elements were clearly stated in the first declaration of the MB church at its founding in 1860. So I do not think these things are mutually exclusive.

[Pelerin]

The sort of ostentatious wealth the prosperity gospel promises is inherently at odds with plain culture. But also the prosperity gospel pretty much just appeals to poor people and historically Mennonites tend to prosper already.

Although, having said that: My grandmother became less plain over time. After she died we discovered she had been occasionally sending money to Rod Parsley. I don’t think I ever saw anything that suggested she was into the prosperity part but I think she had become interested in some of the Charismatic things.

[joshuabgood]

We like small subversive movemnts. And we take kindly to factions and splintering for righteous reasons.

RCC and EO work differently.

[Wesleyb]

Why did Pietism, Revivalism, Restorationism, Holiness, Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, Non-Denominationalism make inroads into Plain Anabaptist communities, but Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Sacramentalism, and Calvinism have not?

And then we have things like Puritanism, Moravianism, Modernism, Charismatic thinking, Emerging Church, and Prosperity Gospel teaching that perhaps influenced some smaller break away groups but didn't really influence Plain Anabaptists as a whole.

I don't know if this dovetails perfectly with your list or not, but my observation is that we tend to view our churches as "dead" and are attracted to movements with life, excitement, spiritual fervor, etc. We are not attracted to more ritualism, or rigid structure because we have enough of that already.

[Ken]

Why did Pietism, Revivalism, Restorationism, Holiness, Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, Non-Denominationalism make inroads into Plain Anabaptist communities, but Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Sacramentalism, and Calvinism have not?

And then we have things like Puritanism, Moravianism, Modernism, Charismatic thinking, Emerging Church, and Prosperity Gospel teaching that perhaps influenced some smaller break away groups but didn't really influence Plain Anabaptists as a whole.

I don't know if this dovetails perfectly with your list or not, but my observation is that we tend to view our churches as "dead" and are attracted to movements with life, excitement, spiritual fervor, etc. We are not attracted to more ritualism, or rigid structure because we have enough of that already.

To expand on what Weslyb just wrote. My experience is that Mennonites are more attracted to "low church" movements that tend to prioritize simplicity, preaching, and a more egalitarian approach. Rather than "high church" movements that prioritize traditional rituals, formal liturgy, and a more hierarchical structure. At least that seems to be the case in my very large extended family for those who have left the Mennonite church. It is generally into more charismatic and evangelical type churches not more formal orthodox type churches.

[cmbl]

Why did Pietism, Revivalism, Restorationism, Holiness, Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, Non-Denominationalism make inroads into Plain Anabaptist communities, but Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Sacramentalism, and Calvinism have not?

And then we have things like Puritanism, Moravianism, Modernism, Charismatic thinking, Emerging Church, and Prosperity Gospel teaching that perhaps influenced some smaller break away groups but didn't really influence Plain Anabaptists as a whole.

I don't know if this dovetails perfectly with your list or not, but my observation is that we tend to view our churches as "dead" and are attracted to movements with life, excitement, spiritual fervor, etc. We are not attracted to more ritualism, or rigid structure because we have enough of that already.

This is not original with me, it may be from The Earth is the Lord's: The Mennonites do a good job of creating spiritually sensitive people, who are then attracted to these movements.